Silicon Valley Execs Send MLB Letter Backing A's Move To San Jose

Seventy-five Silicon Valley CEOs “have signed a letter to Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig urging the timely approval of moving the Oakland A’s to San Jose,” according to Tracy Seipel of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. The two-page letter, assembled by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, “carries the signatures of well-known valley executives,” including Cisco CEO John Chambers, Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz, eBay President & CEO John Donahoe, SunPower CEO Tom Werner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Partner and venture capitalist John Doerr. It is the “latest and perhaps most impressive appeal to Selig from a range of avid supporters.” The letter “drives home the point that Silicon Valley can deliver a level of corporate support to baseball that no other city in the Bay Area can match.” The letter is the “second effort by the leadership group to make its case” for an A’s move to San Jose. Silicon Valley Leadership Group President & CEO Carl Guardino said that the letter “was not a response to renewed efforts by Oakland boosters to keep the team” in the city (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 9/9).

THE BLUEPRINT: The A’s and MLS Earthquakes announced Tuesday the selection of K.C.-based 360 Architecture as the architect for both teams’ proposed new stadiums. 360 recently completed New Meadowlands Stadium (A’s/Earthquakes). A’s and Earthquakes Owner Lew Wolff said that he selected 360 “to design a stadium for the Athletics in downtown San Jose.” The firm will also “design a separate stadium near the San Jose airport” for the Earthquakes (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/8).